Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a gouache drawing by Raúl Martínez. It dates from 1978 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1978, this drawing by Raúl Martínez combines gouache and ink on paper to form a layered composition of three faces. The work is part of The Museum of Modern Art’s collection and exemplifies the artist’s interest in portraiture and symbolic form. Its flat planes and bold contours reflect a deliberate simplification of human features, emphasizing expression over realism.
Subject & Meaning
The pale upper face, with wide eyes and a subtle smile, contrasts with the darker central figure wearing a cap and the broad, vividly colored lower face.
Three stacked faces suggest layered identities or shifting personas. The pale upper face, with wide eyes and a subtle smile, contrasts with the darker central figure wearing a cap and the broad, vividly colored lower face. The absence of narrative context invites interpretation—perhaps referencing cultural duality, memory, or the performative nature of self-presentation in post-revolutionary Cuba.
Technique & Style
Martínez employed gouache for its opaque, matte quality, allowing sharp color contrasts and clean edges. Ink outlines define each face with precision, while the background features large, unmodeled shapes in gray and orange that hover like voids or masks. The style avoids shading and texture, favoring flatness to heighten symbolic impact and visual rhythm.
History & Provenance
The work entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection following its creation in 1978, during a period when Martínez was deeply engaged with Cuban visual culture. It was likely acquired as part of broader efforts to document Latin American modernism. No earlier ownership records are publicly documented, suggesting direct acquisition from the artist or his circle.
Context
Created during Cuba’s Special Period in the arts, when state-sponsored cultural programs encouraged symbolic and experimental forms, this piece reflects a shift from socialist realism toward more abstract, psychological portraiture. Martínez’s use of layered faces aligns with broader regional explorations of identity, influenced by Afro-Cuban traditions and modernist graphic design.
Legacy
This drawing contributes to Martínez’s reputation for merging popular imagery with formal innovation. Its restrained palette and symbolic composition influenced later Cuban artists exploring identity through simplified figuration. Though not widely exhibited, it remains a key example of late 20th-century Cuban graphic art in major institutional collections.
Artist & collection
Artist
Publio Amable Raúl Martínez González, known as Raúl Martínez, was a Cuban painter, designer, photographer, muralist, and graphic artist.
